moth to a flame

Bethany McQueen, 31, Detective

[bethmcqueen]

[phoebe tonkin — 31 — she/her ] Introducing Beth McQueen. Word on the street is they are a DETECTIVE, and despite what others might think, they remain NON-CORRUPT. Though they are APATHETIC and ARROGANT, they can also be CHARMING and LOYAL. In the chaos of New York City, they’re sure to fit right in. 

Name: Bethany 'Beth' McQueen Age: thirty - one Gender, Pronouns & Sexuality: she/her, pansexual Hometown: Sydney, Australia Affiliation: Law enforcement Job position: Detective Education: High school, bachelor's degree in criminology, Police Academy Relationship status: Single Children: 0 Positive traits: Charming, Loyal, Hardworking, Passionate, Creative Negative traits: cold, escapist, difficult, passive, undisciplined

— BIOGRAPHY

bethany McQueen was born in Sydney, Australia to amazing parents, Jane and Mark. She was the oldest of two. her father traveled a lot, making them move to New York City when Beth was five. she was very close to her sister, her other half with a 3-year difference. beth growing up always got into trouble for saying what reasonably was on her mind but still, it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. when she celebrated her twenty's birthday her sister ran late and nobody knew why the thing was that Savana, her younger sister just wanted to walk to the party with Beth's cake to surprise her, but unfortunately, someone had other plans. She was found dead from stabs in the street and the cake all over the road. later that week they found out it was an unknown gang and until today they are still unknown. that was the reason that made Beth go and do everything she can so another poor person wouldn't get to that position. and hope one day she'll find the person who murdered her sister.

— WANTED CONNECTIONS / PLOTS

up to anything of course, but there are some options;

-friends

-exes

-old flames

-co-workers

[elizabeaufort]

⎯ If there is one thing, she wasn't sharing is that said 'boyfriend' made a deal with her that would pay monthly, if she quit stripping. The Aussie was nervous about seeing how her friend would react to the shared news. Until she placed a hand on her arm as if it was reassuring her of the choices made. Liz predicted that she would be confused by the part of the biological father of her babies. ❛ His name is Alexander Calder. I knew him before I met my husband. Long and short story, I found out that my husband couldn't conceive, like kind of recent. And I met Alex by chance on the supermarket the other day as the irony of destiny… We got in touch. Did the DNA test, and it's positive. And yes, we were sleeping around before I married. I married pregnant. It was the beginning… ❜ Liz never got engaged and went straight up to the wedding. Her marriage shocked to many people, it was rushed, unprepared, and sudden. ❛ I thought Alex didn't like me. ❜ Maybe, one of the reasons she went on with it, was to see if he would ever admit he likes her. It is all in the past now. ❛ Now I wasted months of Jack's life when he could've been happier with somebody else. ❜ Suddenly tears started to fall on her face, guilty of his death, she looked down ashamed of herself.

[bethmcqueen]

beth listened intently, her heart aching for Liz as she confessed her tangled web of past decisions. she gave her a gentle stroke, a reassuring hand on Liz's shoulder, her touch warm and steady. "liz, you did what you thought was best at the time. none of us can predict the future, and you can't blame yourself for trying to find happiness and stability." her voice was soft, filled with empathy and understanding. "life is messy, and relationships are even messier. But you can't carry the weight of the past alone. Alex being the twin's biological father doesn't change the fact that you've been an incredible mother and just think about it, if you've never had those problems with jack you'd never met that alex guy." beth's eyes met Liz's. her expression was sincere. "and as for jack, you can't be so hard on yourself-- what's done is done-- sadly maybe things go in other way but it didn't and he's not here right now." beth said calmly. "now-- tell me about this alex guy, what is going on there?"

[covertenforcer]

"That's not my job." The statement was blunt, maybe even a little cold. Was she expecting an entire playthrough of the events of the night? Man was running his mouth, Dimitri intervened, man tried to take a swing. Both of them got their fair share of hits, he was just faster. "No, see, your job is to build a case against me. It's not my job to help you with that. You've got witnesses, maybe the bar has security footage. Why don't you go look around and see who started it, hm? Or maybe who the one was that threw a stool? It's not my fault he picked a fight with the wrong guy." Innocent until proven guilt and, in Dimitri's eyes, there wasn't any proof there yet. It wasn't like it was premeditated. It wasn't even one of the 'jobs' the Brotherhood had him on.

Of course everything seemed to shift when it was revealed they were utterly alone. Blue eyes were wide before narrowing, lips thinning in agitation. "You've been fucking with me," he spoke in Russian. Was this all just some game then? A way to make him sweat? Well, the guy being examined by medics wasn't fake by any means or any sort of game but that was completely pushed out of his mind and any lingering trace of alcohol long gone in a moment of sobriety. Now he felt more and more like an animal backed into a corner and the seemingly shrinking walls of the room did little to help. Just him and her and somehow that felt even more like a dangerous game to play. One step in the wrong direction, one wrong word told to the wrong person. Maybe he should have taken a job out of Florida to avoid this.

"What— what are we doing here? Like, seriously?" he finally had to ask. "Are we flirting? Analyzing? Interrogating? Because I'm getting mixed signals here and you're just wasting my time now." Still leaning forward on the table, eyes not daring to look away from her face. How the hell was he meant to get her to back down from something she had sunk her teeth into? "This isn't a game you want to play if it is. You get in the water, and you're going to find there's a lot of darkness in here and sharks all around." It was meant to be a clear warning to stand down. The whole situation was putting both of them at risk, though him in particular.

[bethmcqueen]

beth raised an eyebrow, her patience wearing thin. "wow, Dimitri, thanks for the lesson on how investigations work. i had no idea I was supposed to gather evidence," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "lucky for me, i did just that. we have witnesses who saw you throw the first punch because of some drunk comment that went to you. and the bar's security footage clearly shows you being anything but innocent." she crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. "so, you can keep playing the victim all you want, but the proof says otherwise. maybe next time, think twice before you start swinging. Or better yet, try keeping your fists to yourself." an officer ran by beth before this whole thing started, before even knowing she'd face dimitri.

her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched dimitri's realization dawn. she could practically see the gears turning in his head, the shift from confusion to anger as he spat out his accusation in Russian. "Fucking with you?" she echoed, her tone light but edged with steel. "you give me too much credit." she took a step closer to her chair. The room felt smaller, and the air charged with tension, but she was in complete control if he liked it or not. "you see, this isn't a game. This is me doing my job. you might think you're some big star out this door, but in this room you're just another suspect. and let me be clear: i hold all the cards." the detective's expression softened just a fraction, enough to show a glimmer of sympathy, even if it was fleeting. "i'm not here to ruin your life, dimitri. i'm here to find the truth. but if you keep lying, keep fighting me, then yeah, it’s going to be a good game. your choice. you can make this easy, or you can make it hard." beth added. she did mind games for living, it was her job. beth sat back down, matching his posture. "mixed signals? maybe. but that's the point, isn't it? to keep you off balance, to see how you react under pressure. and right now, you're doing exactly what I expected." she let the silence stretch for a moment, letting him absorb her words, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that spoke volumes. "you think you're the only one who knows about darkness and sharks? please. I swim in these waters every day, and I don't scare easily." her voice dropped to a whisper, a dangerous edge to her tone. "i know who you are dimitri, but here." she gently pointed at the file. "that's not the dimitri i know. i showed you there's no one in the other room so you could actually tell me what is going on."

[floweryttale]

[covertenforcer]

His head tipped to the side, eyebrows momentarily furrowed before a scoff left him. "I'm sorry, have you seen my face compared to that guy's? There's no jealousy there." The hand holding the cigarette lifted, gesturing to his face lazily. Granted, he still had youth to rely on compared to the man he had beat. Probably late forties if Dimitri had to hazard a guess when he had sized him up in the bar. "I'm sorry, what exactly are we doing here? Is this an interrogation or a therapy session? Because the only one that might make me jealous is my brother and, surprise, we're twins." Not that they spoke much, but Dimitri could still keep his humour up despite the growing tension he could feel circulating the room. And not the kind he liked or what they used to have, either.

It was heavy, it made him focus on every tiny detail, anything he could to turn the situation in his favour. Maybe others would be panicking but all his senses were on high alert. That was the problem with having so many connections before undercover—— people could know who you were. Back in Boston, it hadn't been a big issue. Those that might know him knew him from his dumbass teenage years. It could add to his credibility rather than the current situation he was in now. No one was vouching for his youthful excursions this time, now he was face-to-face with someone that knew he was anything but.

Drop it. Just drop it. Drop the case, drop the probing, walk out like there was nothing more to see. But she wasn't, she was acting like a dog with a damned bone. Dimitri had to wonder if it was her being a persistent but good cop or her simply giving payback for him suddenly leaving. "Training?" he asked with a laugh. "I've got experience fighting but the only place my 'training' comes from is from fighting on the streets." Or at least according to the fake file, his eyes momentarily flicking towards the folder with stacks of paperwork in it.

"Fine, fine, you want to play this out?" He leaned closer again, his voice becoming more annoyed, a sharp edge to it though a growing smirk began to appear as he spoke. "Here's what'll happen: You'll book me, I'll pay the bail and walk out. In a couple of months, I'll be at a trial and either it'll get thrown out in self defense or I serve a little bit of probation. Either way, you get nothing out of it other than looking like a cop that just wasted time and resources. And I still walk with minimal consequences. Oh, and let's not forget how easy it is to make a probation officer look the other way." Just drop the stupid charges.

[bethmcqueen]

beth's expression remained composed, though a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes. She leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. "it depends on who's taste you're falling in. some chicks like the old man vibe." not for her for sure, and this conversation wasn't going anywhere. "This isn't a therapy session—it's an investigation. and your smart remarks aren't helping your case." she added calmly. she was trying to think if she remembered any brother's story, maybe a few. "This isn't about jealousy or who's got the better face. We're here because someone got seriously hurt, and I need to understand exactly what happened. If this was self-defense, then help me see it that way." beth explained, although she knew that she could just cut it set him free and never see him again but she wanted to know why she actually never saw him again.

she knew he was lying; his story was as thin as the paper it was printed on. but she played along, a hint of amusement curling her lips. "street fighting, huh?" she mused, tossing her cigarette across the room after taking the last inhale. "must've been one hell of a school." Her tone was light, almost playful, but her eyes were sharp, probing for cracks in his facade, although from what she remembered, he has some street learning but the academy only helped him do better. She couldn't deny the thrill of the chase, the challenge of piecing together the truth from his tangled web of lies. it wasn't just about the case anymore—it was personal. she wanted answers, and she was determined to get them, no matter how long it took.

beth stayed perfectly still as dimitri leaned closer, the proximity between them stirring memories of a different kind of closeness. "love it when you talk dirty like that," she teased, her voice a sultry. Rising from her chair with catlike grace, she continued, "It's hilarious how people get so annoyed by just words or a bit of waiting." she pressed the button to make the window transparent, revealing that they were truly alone. Leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, she gave him a playful smile. "Sure, I could drop it all, walk away just like you suggested—but where's the fun in that?" she asked as her shoulders shrugged.

[elizabeaufort]

⎯ Elizabeth chuckled at her words, taking her drink and thanking the waiter. ❛ I'm fine… ❜ The blonde took a sip from her drink, before dropping the news. ❛ I quit stripping. And I'm dating now. My boyfriend is the biological father of the twins. ❜ Liz didn't think about quitting strip that early, not until getting the cash she was looking for, to leave for good. And yet she hadn't made the budget she wanted there. She buried her face in the palm of her hands… Unsure how to explain her boyfriend is the twins's father when she was married to another man. She is a widower. Frankly, she didn't know how long she'd remain married if he was alive. He died 6 days before the twins were born. She wanted to share this piece of information with someone of her trust. That would be Beth.

[bethmcqueen]

the brunette eyes widened in surprise, and she nearly spilled her own drink in shock. "wow, Liz, that's a lot to take in," she said, her voice filled with a mix of astonishment and genuine happiness. She reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's arm. "i am happy for you, truly. I know how hard it's been for you, especially. but to hear that you're dating and that the twins' biological father is in the picture—it's not adding to me. I can see it's not easy for you to talk about, but I'm here for you, always. and quitting stripping… well, that's another brave step. i'm proud of you." beth added. so it was information that beth wasn't even thinking of hearing but she would do anything for her friend to feel supported and happy.

[alexcalder]

—for someone who has been involved in the crime world for nearly all his life, he sure as Hell rubs shoulders a lot with law enforcement; save for Reese, whom he knew well before she joined the police. but he had felt sympathy for the woman, and it honestly wouldn’t hurt him that much to actually do something good for once, given his resources and connections in the criminal world. Would he out someone he knew if he came to find it was them who had murdered the other’s sister? most likely, no —especially not if it was someone close to him. for now, everything was still a possibility; he was only going on leads from what she had given him in the police case file. there really wasn’t much to work with, it had been a long time since it happened so any potential footage of the area around the time of the murder must have already been lost. it was not going to be easy to reach the truth, but he was willing to help out where and when he could without compromising details of his involvement in illegal activities.

he laughed a little at the attitude, though the sound was void of any actual emotion; humorless. “I’ve ordered.” Alexander responded and gestured for the waiter, so she could order too. “did you find the file?” he then asked, turning to look at her once more. it was the only lead he had come upon, a phone call from a taxi driver that night, but he could have gotten access to the transcript of the conversation (or the audio, for that matter). it could be unrelated, for all he knew.

[bethmcqueen]

for some reason people call beth cold, since she never gets her emotions on the table, only her close ones know how much she can offer her caring and loving personality. others can jump out of a bridge and she could care less. on the other hand, beth is bubbly and charming when she wants to get something, and overly very nice. she knew that alex could also give zero fucks about her story. still, he's helping her anyway, and that's appreciated and beth would never forget that. as she rolled her eyes the waiter came a long. "a large cup of coffee please." she said quietly before returning her attention to the grumpy male before her. "yep." she said taking out her file from her bag, in a justice league folder and inside there was the file he asked for. "in was done with a drunk psycho that lived around but i know it wasn't." she whispered casually as she leaned forward.

[elizabeaufort]

⏤ Elizabeth was lucky to have long-time friends or basically friends since diapers. They were the special ones, that hadn't drifted apart. They even ended up in the same country. ⏤ Before meeting with Beth, Liz warned her that she'd delay just a little bit because she'd drop her twins at the daycare. Once she left them, she went to seek the brunette in the cafe, but already spotted her, and joined the table with her. ❛ Sorry, I had to leave the twins at the daycare first. Hi! How are ya, doing? ❜ Either way, there is some news she wanted to share.

[bethmcqueen]

beth respected liz so much since she could never understand how she handled her twins by herself and she's doing such s great job. but for beth the thought of having children left when she lost the closest person she ever had. "oh no worries you're great." beth confirmed her friend. "I'm fine i have a night shift tonight so it's going to be a calming morning." the brunette joked. "how are you?" she asked as the waiter brought their drinks.

[covertenforcer]

He couldn't help the hint of a smirk at the mention of what the other guy looked like. He certainly wouldn't be looking pretty for a while, the con of having a whole bottle smashed across one's face along with a fist several times. But Dimitri was quick to pull his face back together as blue eyes kept a careful watch on her. Now wasn't the time to act cocky over a fight he had gotten himself into. "Yeah, well, I don't see him down here asking about the state of my face. And it's a lot prettier than his ever was so where's the concern?" Not helping his case but he had to play this carefully. Uncooperative like any other gang lackey, he couldn't have word getting back to anyone else especially that he used to roll around in the sheets with a damned cop of all things.

Dimitri gave a sight, leaning forward with ash flicking onto the metal table. "Look, he took the first swing, he just missed. But clearly he got his own hits in. He hit first, I just hit harder. So why don't we just call this self defense and I walk out of here?" There was no time for this, not when he was supposed to be gathering intel. Every second wasted here was a second lost doing his job.

But clearly she was still hard pressed on duties. He gave a groan, leaning back in the chair with a huff. "Dimitri Shvedov." There was a definite Russian tinge to his words as he pronounced the name. Years of using it had it rolling off his tongue so casually from both undercover work and the original surname of his family. "Thirty-three. Brooklyn. And because I got lucky in a fight." There was an emphasis on the word 'lucky'. It was more than that, there was training behind him and, if Beth knew who he was as she seemed to, she would know that.

[bethmcqueen]

"well, it sounds like you're feeling frustrated and underappreciated. Comparing appearances and questioning concerns can be a defense mechanism, but it might not be the most effective way to address the issue. Perhaps finding a more constructive way to communicate your feelings could help resolve the situation more positively so next time don't choose to express your jealousy towards him with violence. and maybe, you wouldn't be sitting here with me today." the detective said not moving her eyes from the guy. beth knew she couldn't break the man, he was trained for much worse, but his ego is much easier to break.

beth leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms her cigarette running out as she regarded dimitri with a steady gaze. "self defense, huh?" she said, her voice calm but firm. "problem is, dimitri, self defense doesn't usually leave the other guy looking like he went through a meat grinder. and from what I've seen, you didn't just hit harder—you hit with intent." she paused, letting her words sink in. "i get that you have a job to do, but so do i. so why don't you start by telling me the real story, and maybe we can figure out a way to make this right. ttherwise, you're not going anywhere."

beth raised an eyebrow, noting the shift in his tone and the emphasis he placed on 'lucky.' she knew better than to believe it was all just luck. "dimitri shvedov," she repeated, her voice cool and measured. "Brooklyn, thirty-three. A man with your background doesn’t rely on luck alone," she said finally opening the file she brought from her office. "training, experience—that's what got you through that fight." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the metal table, her eyes locking onto his. "but let's cut it, dimitri. it looks like we all know what you are capable of. so why don't you save us both some time and give me the real reason you were there in the first place?"

[flynnxhalliday]

closed starter for @bethmcqueen

It had been a long day at work. A long fucking day. And now, Flynn's brain was completely fried. He couldn't think straight. Couldn't focus on what he needed to do. His eyes were connected with his computer screen but everything he was reading was not entering his brain.

He let out a sigh when he heard footsteps approach. His eyes lifted towards Beth. "Here to tell me I'm working too hard?" He asked with a smirk. "Or that I'm not working hard enough?"

[bethmcqueen]

beth gave a small, sympathetic smile as she approached flynn's desk. she could see the exhaustion etched on his face and the frustration in his eyes. "actually, I'm here to remind you that even the best detectives need a break sometimes," she said gently, leaning against the edge of his desk. "pushing yourself too hard won't solve anything, flynn. You need to recharge so you can come back with a clear head. I'm heading out for a smoke, how about we grab a coffee and take a few minutes to unwind? the case will still be here when we get back, but your mind be in a better place to tackle it."

[hoespice-deactivated20180619]

“i expected better from you” well that was your fault lmao I got nothing to do with that

[bethmcqueen]

@elizabeaufort | cafe spot

when you grow up you see how friendships drift apart even when you don't want them to, but there are some extraordinary ones. like the one that liz and beth shared. both of them taking the first steps together while their fathers hang out, and now they are thirty and thriving, well maybe at least trying to thrive as much as possible. it's not as easy as before to find the right time to hang out since they both have other paths now, but they try to stay as close as possible. beth was the first to arrive at their favorite hang out place, making your way to the counter, you catch the barista’s eye and smile waiting for the right moment to order. the barista nods, swiftly preparing the drinks. the brunette looked up to search for the perfect seat for them and when she did, beth sat down waiting patiently for her friend as she scrolled down her phone.

[covertenforcer]

At one point in his life, Dimitri might have taken pride in being so memorable. Now, when his job was to blend in, it couldn't be a greater curse. He internally swore at the question of Marlboro, the cigarette held before him. A cautious hand reached up, taking hold of the cigarette as his shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. "It makes do in a pinch." Of course it was bullshit, it was his preferred brand but anything he could do to separate his current identity with the man she knew, well he had to give it a shot. Maybe the more polite thing would be to relent but that was also the more dangerous option for both of them.

Daring to take a drag, he managed to keep his eyes on her. If he were anyone else without any ties, he probably would have been held overnight in a cell then released in the morning with no charges. That didn't work when one ran with gang members. Anything the police could get, they would get them on. Even a pathetic little bar fight was enough to get him dragged into an interrogation room. He let the smoke coat his throat, his lungs, a nicotine rush through his system just enough to take the edge off though not enough to dissipate entirely.

"Have you been monitoring me or something?" he asked with a brow as he lowered the cigarette. "Didn't know I was high dollar enough for you guys to know what brand of cigarette I smoke." Though he doubted she would play along, especially if she was offering him a smoke right down to his brand. "Look, all of this," he waived a hand around the room, "It's totally unnecessary. I got in some hits, he got in some hits. We were both just drunk." Of course, Dimitri had gotten more hits in. Trained in the military, the other guy had been lucky that Dimitri knew when to stop before he beat someone to literal death.

[bethmcqueen]

during her whole years as a detective, she never thought something like that would happen to her. according to her mind, the situation was absurd but funny for sure. she looked into his eyes since she understood he chose to pretend on her. beth always tried to keep her job very professional, only because others failed to do her part in the past. she leaned back in her chair while the other was asking questions, beth took another cigarette out of her box and lit it up. it was amazing for her to watch how helpless the other person in front of her always was in this position, and when it came to specific things she enjoyed it--- and now? the brunette was absolutely having it. a posture of relaxed confidence, one hand gracefully holding a cigarette between her fingers. as she brought it to her lips, beth took a long, slow drag. "so are you telling me the other guy looks fine? no bruises or bleeding lips?" she asked as she finally gently put his closed file on the grey cold desk. "cause if it's like that you have to go and don't waste my time. but sadly even a scratch is worth press charges for. so let's cooperate shall we?" beth teased the male and took another inhale from her cigarette. "tell me your full name, age, where do you live and why do you think you're here today?"

[covertenforcer]

@bethmcqueen | police department

His head was killing him. In hindsight, maybe a headbutt hadn't been the best move but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Apparently the bar fight had been enough to gain someone's attention and giving the name 'Shvedov' was just another tally in the list of bad ideas of the night given that was the one tied to his gang affiliations. Put him right on the radar and instead of the drunk tank, here he was in the interrogation room. He couldn't help it, the other man wanted to run his mouth and Dimitri had done the polite thing of closing it for him. Maybe now he'd learn a lesson next time he wanted to talk big, though Dimitri had his fair share of cuts and bruises from the altercation as well.

He had been slightly drunk when they had shoved him into the back of the cruiser though the ride over had sobered him up well enough. Now sitting in the empty room, there was a growing irritation. Dimitri just couldn't tell if it was from being pulled in from the tiniest event or the growing need for nicotine as he sat there waiting.

When the door finally opened, he let out a breath of annoyance, doing everything to keep the same attitude up, eyes not even glancing at the person yet. "What does a guy have to do around here for a cigarette?" The words fell from his lips just as blue eyes drifted up and, for a moment, he froze. Heart stopped and dropped all in one go as he saw the familiar face. Shit, shit, shit. Not good. Partially because she could utterly derail his entire undercover work if she recognized him and spoke to the wrong people. And then partially because he'd left without so much as a word when he'd been reassigned to his home city of Boston for a year. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that.

Keep calm, he just had to play along still. Leaning back in the chair, remaining nonchalant as he watched her. Praying to god that she overlooked the fact she knew him. "Do you guys still allow smoking in here like all those old movies?"

[bethmcqueen]

the only thing that beth wanted was for the coffee machine to work, it was the late night shift and beth's coworker wanted to see how far her patience could go. finally when the coffee started pouring down all she could think of was how nice it would be to put a shot of whisky inside, but that thought was shaken very fast when she got the news that a job was on the table. the detective took a sip from her cup of coffee and sighed as the steam went up her face. looking down the file of the investigation she needs to run and another sigh comes out of her lips while she puts her coffee cup on her desk. "great another bar fight, 'cause i don't have bigger problems." she mumbled to herself. she goes to the window of the questioning room, looks up from the file, and sees a very familiar face. she looks down again and the numbers add up but in her head, she has a whole plan of how to make that man nervous. "dimitri shvedov aren't we?" she asks to herself but one of her co-worker hears her and asks what she was talking about. "nothing. I'll be right back." she simply said with a smirk as brunette leaves to her office. she sits down in front of the computer trying to remember his real last name. and like a light bubble on top of her head "shay." she whispers and prints the new files.

when she walks back to the questioning room she orders everyone to leave, because she wanted that moment all for herself. with her file in her hand she walks in casually like nothing is going on. beth's thoughts in her head were two, will he recognize her? and when he would how far will he go with the lies and pretending? he looks up at her and all she does is keep her poker face as she takes out her box of cigarettes. the detective takes out a cigarette and lights it up, she takes the first inhale and brings it up to his lips. "do you still smoke malboro?" she whispers. the guy doesn't know that the other side of the window is empty but teasing was always her greatest side.

[alexcalder]

—when she had initially brought it up, he wanted to refuse; he had no business getting involved in something that did not concern him. fight only the battle you are paid to fight; that’s what he had always gone by. and then, she said it was about her sister and Alexander felt sympathy for her. the thought of being in her place, fighting alone to solve a mystery, her sister’s murder made him…kinder. he knew that if anything were to happen to his sister, he would raise Hell and spill blood, blinded by rage; leaving no one unpunished. she was the only constant in his life he adored; had gone through a lot of shit, to extreme lengths in order to protect her, keep her safe with him —and he would do it all over again if he had to. he could understand her pain.

Alexander was old-fashioned in his work; he avoided anything that could leave a trace; digital especially, like emails. or texts. When first provided with information, he much preferred a good old copy of the case, of a target's personal details; anything on paper he could destroy and get rid of without leaving evidence of his involvement behind. Beth knew he was involved in the crime world, something vague about him having something to do with drug trafficking —it just happened like that the night they first met.

tucked in the back of a small dinner, in one of the less populated areas of Bronx, he waited for her once more. this, however, wasn’t a regular meeting point; they could not be seen conspiring together. “you are late.” he pointed out. (@bethmcqueen)

[bethmcqueen]

if beth could finally wake up to a day without any nightmare about her sister she'd be grateful, but that case only would happen when she finally catches the motherfuckers who did it. she knows her department wouldn't like hearing that she's doing some side job to find out what happened to her sister. it is so easy for everyone to tell the brunette to let go of it but she psychically can't. she was the only light in her world and it was taken aggressively. the last thing she wanted to do is to start going to the other side of the police but sadly the detective didn't have any other choice. her parents aren't functioning since everyone happened with the worst luck all that happens every year at beth's birth date. beth found someone who could lead her to the other side of the law, she had a sense that the guy was discreet and logical, at least she hopes but that what happens when you're desperate. the brunette walks into the a most suspicious diner she ever got into but she takes a deep breath when her eyes look for the man. "in a minute gee." she sits in front of the big male. "I'll try my best next time." she hissed as she leaned back. "coffee?"

[robertdeniro]

Closer (2004) dir. Mike Nichols

[moonlovie-deactivated20211205]

Phoebe Tonkin photographed Tiffany and Co, September 21st 2021